Potty Training Problems

Potty training your child is difficult enough, without making some obvious mistakes that will only prolong the process. A few apparent pitfalls to avoid are starting too early, or scolding your child when he/she has a mishap. The right potty training age to start at is two years or older. However, this is does not apply to every situation, and you need to assess if your child is ready. It is also very important to use correct potty training techniques, to make the transition as positive as possible for your child. While the kind of potty training problems everyone has are different, here are some common ones.

Problems With Potty Training

Resisting: There are a few possible reasons why your child may refuse to use the toilet. One of the very common potty training issues is your child being frightened of the pot. The sound of the flush can be pretty intimidating to a small child. It may also seem large and cold. If this be the situation, the ideal way to get your child to warm up to the idea of using a potty is to get him one of his own. Get a nice colorful chair for your kid, and make sure he knows that it is his by allowing him to scribble or paste stickers on it. Also get him to sit on it for a few minutes every day. You can make your child do this, with or without his diaper on. For him to get used to the functioning of a regular pot, make a practice of emptying the soiled diaper into the toilet and flushing down the poop.

Another reason why your child may be resisting use of the toilet is that he is just not ready to make the transition yet. If that be the case, the best way to deal with the situation is to simply not push your child, and wait for a few months before trying again. If your child is already dealing with other significant changes such as the arrival of a sibling or a shift of residence, that may be the reason he is resisting using the potty. Under these circumstances, you must not pressurize your child, as one big change can be traumatic enough. Once your child has settled back into a comfortable routine, you may resume training.

Regression: One of the common problems with potty training is regression. In these cases, your joy over your child learning to use the pot may be short lived. One of the possible causes of regression may be a small change like shifting from the use of a crib to a bed. In these situations, a baby diaper may be a security blanket that a child just wants to hold on to because it is something familiar. In these situations, it is important not to make much of the problem or an accident, but find positive ways (a trip to the park, a story, praise) to encourage him to start using the potty once again.

Among the other toilet training problems you may face, can include your child refusing to use the toilet outside home. If he is refusing to use the bathroom at his daycare center, make inquiries about the bathroom routine that they follow. If the kids go in groups, the problem could be one of privacy. Another possibility is that your child is uncomfortable using the toilet at the day care facility, in which case you can provide them with a potty chair similar to the one he uses at home. While these are some common problems associated with potty training, the ones you face could be entirely different. However, some more research, or your pediatrician's suggestions are sure to help you sort through them.